ZT 0630 stiff detent -- ZT should be ashamed

I would have to agree with a few people that the "most likely" reason is how your holding the knife and if your putting even the slightest pressure on the lockbar it will feel extremely stiff and obnoxious. If that's not the case then i would pass on the 1000 flip breaking in process and swap it out
 
I think jumping to condem a whole company for that might be a bit overboard. There are several more exspensive (some that are considered among the top of the line knives) that simply take a little bit of a different motion or pressure to operate as smooth as anything you've ever used.

And it is possibke you got a bad example ... in which case returning it for an exchange to get a better example or even a different knife if you'd rather. Or send it in to KAI they will make it right.
 
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Thin-Slice said:
I am not an expert on Emerson but I could swear I had seen some customs with frame locks but don't quote me.
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Don't know about customs, but there are some production frame locks. The CQC 7 HD and the Iron Dragon are two that come to mind. I've also seen some conversion models made by modders.

Edit: Well i cant read. See post 34.:D
 
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Tucson_Tom said:
I recently purchased my first ZT knife. A 0630CF - this is an Emerson Colab, sort of a rendition of the CQC-8 with carbon fiber and M390 steel. All of this is nice and the knife is very nicely done, except for one thing. Apart from using the wave, there is no way to open it one handed. The detent that holds it closed is unbelievably stiff and there is no way to open it with a thumb one handed. No way!

I did quite a bit of searching and reading about this online and I am by no means the first to complain and wonder about this. The word is that this will break in, that I should work the knife through 1000 or so open and close cycles while watching TV, maybe carefully dress the hole with a file, etc. etc. OK, that is what I plan to do, but wait, look, think .... This is no bargain knife. Why does it come from the factory needing end user tuning? I have a fair number of knives from other manufacturers at similar price points (or less) that are perfect out of the box. Why can't they get this right?
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If anyone should be ashamed EKI should. To let a company out shine you in everyway possible with your own design is pathetic. The 0620 is over 100$ cheaper than the real thing; and is better in every way(fit, finish, and material)
And to top it off kai/zt doesnt have an ego bigger than the sun.
If anything good on ZT.
 
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ibute21 said:
It's all good, no worries. There are a couple of production Emersons that have frame locks, the HD 7, CQC-12 and Iron Dragon are the ones off the top of my head.
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God I need to get an HD7! That is one of my all time grail knives. I love the cqc7s but liner lock Emersons are abit bulky.

The ZT Emerson collabs are awesome too. I have a CF 0620 which I love. Unfortunately the ZT Emersons are also very bulky, if abit slimmer than the linerlck Emersons. I wish they built the 0620/630 like they did the Kershaw Emerson framelocks. (ie: CQC7k) These are way thinner and actually the 7k is one of the most pocket friendly designs from Emerson. That's why I have a feeling I would love an HD7. It is one of my all tome favourite knives, the cqc7 made as a framelock and thus much thinner.
 
Never had that issue on my 0630. Send it in or send it back if it's that cumbersome.

They're great knives but, IMO, have 1 major design flaw...the correlation between pocket clip and lockbar cutout. Had a tendency to snag on the pocket seam. Different clip orientation or an inside lockbar cutout would make all the difference.
 
Looks like me and you may be in the same city. I have a 0620 that has been broken in. I wouldn't mind meeting at Erik's shop. Then you can see how smooth it is broken in and tuned.
 
Either you break it on our it will break you. Survival of the fittest. Lol

Try opening it with your left hand. This way you are not pushing blade into the lockbar with the ball as send hole, but away from it. If it can't be opened like that by yourself get it exchanged. While you at it with your left hand, try and get your middle finger to help you out. Try that with right hand. Using two fingers, pinching it. Maybe we'll teach you how to middle flick it soon. Welcome to the forum, nice entrance.
 
I've never handled one but I'm sure it's made to last for years. Instant gratification is sometimes nice but I like the "break in" period on a knife and I sure dislike a weak detent.
My relative bought a near 400$ softball glove for his 12 old little girl, he worked on it a week putting ointments and balm on it. She still wouldn't use it because it was too stiff. Had to wait till her old one fell apart. Enjoy your knife.
 
I got the CF 0620 when it first came out. It had a lockup that was way too early due to the lockbar having virtually no spring tension.

Needless to say I had to take the knife apart and bend the lockbar.

I think there are some home remedies for overly stiff detents. Such as flattening the BB or cutting and polishing a little track for the detent to ride in wheb opening or closing the knife.

I am certain any of these will void your warrenty. If it is so stiff that you consider it a flaw then return it or get warranty work.
 
Old thread but I'll post anyway. Mine loosened up after a week of use. Excellent knife!
 
Tucson_Tom said:
There is one way to open it one handed, I can hook my thumbnail under the "wave" and along with a wrist flick that does the job -- something I read about in my searches last night. But this yields nicks and gouges in my thumbnail which are annoying later on.
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I my experience with the ZT0620, if you don't open the knife in a certain angle, it can be very difficult to open without any break in period.

Use thumb to open it as you would normally, don't use your thumbnail. Give it a slight push and a slight wrist flick. I open my ZT0620 with little effort every time. You can also dissemble the knife and add a little lubrication to the washers.
 
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